USPTO Patents Application 09916174

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Application No.: 09/9 1 6, 1 74 Docket No.: AP9974

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

1.-18. (canceled)

19. (Currently amended) A spot-type disc brake assembly, comprising:
a brake housing;

at least one actuating device arranged in the brake housing to apply an actuating force to
a first brake pad detachably connected to the at least one actuating device;

a second brake pad detachably connected to the at least one actuating device and
anchored axially on the brake housing; and

a spring assembly having a design that actively lifts and provides a clearance for the first
brake pad, wherein the spring assembly is arranged against said first brake pad to preclude m eh
that it pr e clud e s an unsymmetrical load on the first brake pad, wherein the spring assembly
includes[[:]]

a first leg portion which is detachably hooked to a shackle of a carrier plate portion of the
first brake pad, wherein r fall said shackle is disposed on a first side of the carrier plate portion
opposing a frictional lining portion of the first brake pad, wherein said frictional lining portion is
secured on a second side of said carrier plate portion , wherein said frictional lining portion
provides a point of force that radially overlaps a spring force that is exerted on a contact area of
the first brake pad for actively lifting the first brake pad at l e ast on e actuating d e vic e after a
braking application,

wherein the first leg portion of the spring assembly is supported on the first brake pad in
a circumferential direction traversing a central plane of the at least one actuating device^

wherein the spring assembly is arranged in a recess between two bridge portions of the
brake housing,

wherein the spring assembly includes a second leg portion supported in a circumferential
direction on the brake housing by two spring arms supported in the recess, wherein the two
spring arms extend opposedly in a circumferential direction in order to prevent tilting movement
of the spring assembly .

20. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 19,
wherein the spring assembly abuts, in a protected fashion, in an indentation of the brake housing.

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Application No.: 09/916,174 Docket No.: AP9974

21. (Canceled)

22. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 19,
wherein the spring assembly includes a second leg portion detachably hooked into a bore in the
brake housing.

23. (Canceled)

24. (Currently amended) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 23,
wherein the first leg portion of the spring assembly, at [[its]] a free end, includes bent portions to
permit ease of mounting the first leg portion at the shackle and to prevent the first leg portion
from slipping out of the shackle.

25. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 23,
wherein the spring assembly includes a second leg portion supported in the recess on the brake
housing.

26. (Canceled)

27. (Currently amended) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim
[[26]] 19, wherein the brake housing includes at least one grooved-shaped indentation.

28. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 27,
wherein the at least one grooved-shaped indentation is shaped during casting of the brake
housing.

29. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 27,
wherein said spring assembly further includes the second leg portion with a free end having at
least one matingly configured fastening portion under a spring bias that improves accurate
positioning and hold of the second leg portion.

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Application No.: 09/916,174 Docket No.: AP9974

30. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 29,
wherein the at least one matingly configured fastening portion includes two matingly configured
fastening portions which are received in the at least one grooved-shaped indentation.

> 31. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 29,
wherein the at least one matingly configured fastening portion is received at the grooved-shaped
indentation.

32. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 29,
wherein the at least one matingly configured fastening portion is received at a fastening portion
bore in the brake housing.

33. (Currently amended) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim
[[26]]_19, wherein the spring arms extending in a circumferential direction are arranged in a
pocket adjacent to the recess on the radial top side of the housing, thereby fixing r e nd e ring it
possibl e to fix the spring assembly in one of a circumferentially [[or]]and a radially accurate
positioning]]] on the brake housing.

34. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 33,
wherein the pocket is shaped during casting fabrication of the brake housing.

35. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed Claim 19,
wherein the spring assembly is designed as a spiral-type wound tension spring having an end
portion which is detachably fastened to the brake housing

36. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed Claim 19,
wherein the spring assembly is designed as a compression spring having an end portion which is
detachably fastened to the brake housing.

37. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 19,
wherein the spring assembly is configured as a leg spring having an end portion which is
detachably fastened on the brake housing.

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Application No.: 09/916,174 Docket No.: AP9974

38. (Previously presented) The spot-type disc brake assembly as claimed in Claim 19,
wherein at least one mid-portion of the spring assembly is conformed to an "S" shape, and
wherein an end portion of the spring assembly is supported on the brake housing in a
circumferential direction.

39. -40. (Canceled)

41 . (Currently amended) A spot-type disc brake assembly, comprising:

a brake housing including at least one grooved-shaped indentation, wherein the at least
one grooved-shaped indentation is shaped during casting of the brake housing;

an actuating device arranged in the brake housing to apply an actuating force to a first
brake pad detachably connected to the actuating device;

a second brake pad detachably connected to the actuating device and anchored axially on
the brake housing; and

a spring assembly arranged in a recess between two bridge portions of the brake housing
having a design that actively lifts and provides a clearance for a frictional lining portion of the
first brake pad, wherein the spring assembly is arranged against said first brake pad such that it
precludes an unsymmetrical load on the first brake pad, wherein the spring assembly abuts, in a
protected fashion, on the brake housing in said at least one groove-shaped indentation, wherein
the spring assembly includes:

a first leg portion which is detachably hooked at a shackle portion of the first
brake pad, wherein the shackle resides on a back side of a carrier plate portion of the first brake
pad and wherein the frictional lining portion is secured to a front side of said carrier plate
portion, wherein said frictional lining portion provides a point of force that radially overlaps a
spring force that is exerted on a contact area of the first brake pad for actively lifting the
actuating d e vic e first brake pad after a braking application, wherein the first leg, at [[its]]a free
end, includes:

bent portions to permit ease of mounting the first leg at the shackle and to prevent
the first leg from slipping out of the shackle; and

a second leg portion in a circumferential direction on the brake housing by two
spring arms supported in the recess, which extend opposedly in a circumferential direction in

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Application No.: 09/916,174

Docket No.: AP9974

order to prevent tilting movement of the spring assembly, wherein, the second leg portion, at
[[its]]a free end, includes:

two matingly configured fastening portions under a spring bias that improves
accurate positioning and holding of said spring assembly, wherein the two matingly configured
fastening portions are received at two grooved-shaped indentations of the at least one rfthell
grooved-shaped indentation^]].

42. (Currently amended) A spot-type disc brake assembly, comprising:

a brake housing including at least one grooved-shaped indentation, wherein the grooved-
shaped indentation is shaped during casting of the brake housing;

an actuating device arranged in the brake housing to apply an actuating force to a first
brake pad detachably connected to the actuating device;

a second brake pad detachably connected to the actuating device and anchored axially on
the brake housing; and

a spring assembly arranged in a recess of the brake housing having a design that actively
lifts and provides a clearance for at least one side of the first brake pad, wherein the spring
assembly is arranged against said first brake pad such that it precludes an unsymmetrical load on
the first brake pad, wherein the spring assembly abuts said at least one grooved-shaped
indentation on the brake housing, in a protected fashion wherein the spring assembly includes:

a first leg portion which is detachably hooked at a shackle portion of the first
brake pad, wherein the shackle is attached to a back side of a carrier plate portion of the brake
pad and wherein a frictional lining portion of the brake pad is secured to a front side of the
carrier plate portion wherein the frictional lining portion in ord e r to provid e provides a point of
force that radially overlaps a spring force that is exerted on a contact area of the first brake pad
for actively lifting the actuating d e vic e first brake pad after a braking application, wherein the
first leg portion, at [[its]]a free end, includes:

bent portions to permit ease of mounting the first leg at the shackle and to prevent
the first leg from slipping out of the shackle; and

a second leg portion in a circumferential direction on the brake housing by two
spring arms supported in the recess, which extend opposedly in a circumferential direction in
order to prevent tilting movement of the spring assembly, wherein the second leg portion, at
[[its]] a free end, includes:

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Application No.: 09/916,174 DocketNo.: AP9974

a matingly configured fastening portion under a spring bias that improves
accurate positioning and holding of said spring assembly, wherein the matingly configured
fastening portion is received at one of the at least one g rooved-shaped indentation and ["[or at]] a
fastening portion bore in the brake housing.

43. (Currently amended) A spot-type disc brake assembly, comprising:
a brake housing;

an actuating device arranged in the brake housing to apply an actuating force to a first
brake pad detachably connected to the actuating device;

a second brake pad detachably connected to the actuating device and anchored axially on
the brake housing; and

a spring assembly arranged in a recess between two bridge portions of the brake housing
having a design that actively lifts and provides a clearance for at least one side of the first brake
pad, wherein the spring assembly is arranged against said first brake pad such that it precludes
an unsymmetrical load on the first brake pad, wherein the spring assembly abuts, in a protected
fashion, on the brake housing in an indentation of said actuating device, wherein the spring
assembly includes:

a first leg portion which is detachably hooked at a shackle portion of the first
brake pad, wherein the shackle is attached to a back side of a carrier plate portion of the brake
pad and wherein a frictional lining portion of the brake pad is secured to a front side of a carrier
plate portion, said frictional lining portion providing a point of force that radially overlaps a
spring force that is exerted on a contact area of the first brake pad for actively lifting the first
brake pad actuating d e vic e after a braking application, wherein the first leg portion of said spring
assembly includes a free end, having,

bent portions to permit ease of mounting the first leg portion at the shackle and to
prevent the first leg from slipping out of the shackle; and

a second leg portion supported in a circumferential direction on the brake housing
by two spring arms supported in the recess, which extend opposedly in a circumferential
direction in order to prevent tilting movement of the spring assembly, wherein the spring arms
extending in a circumferential direction are arranged in a pocket adjacent to the recess on the
radial top side of the housing, thereby rendering it possible to fix the spring assembly in one of a

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Application No.: 09/916,174

Docket No.: AP9974

circumferential [[or]]and a radially accurate position on the brake housing, wherein the pocket is
shaped during casting fabrication of the brake housing.

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